Ipomoea plant named ‘Grand Marble’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of  Ipomoea  plant named ‘Grand Marble’, characterized by its initially upright then trailing plant habit; freely branching habit, dense and bushy growth habit; rapid growth rate; and dark purple and green bi-colored cordate-shaped leaves.

Botanical designation: Ipomoea batatas.

Cultivar denomination: ‘GRAND MARBLE’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Ipomoea plant, botanically known as Ipomoea batatas, commercially referred to as ornamental sweet potato and hereinafter referred to by the name ‘Grand Marble’.

The new Ipomoea plant is a naturally-occurring branch mutation of Ipomoea batatas ‘Blackie’, not patented. The new Ipomoea plant was discovered and selected by the Inventor on a single plant within a population of plants of ‘Blackie’ in a controlled greenhouse environment in Oklahoma City, Okla. in 2008.

Asexual reproduction of the new Ipomoea plant by cuttings in a controlled greenhouse environment in Oklahoma City, Okla. since 2008 has shown that the unique features of this new Ipomoea plant are stable and reproduced true to type in successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Plants of the new Ipomoea have not been observed under all possible environmental conditions and cultural practices. The phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environment such as temperature and light intensity without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be the unique characteristics of ‘Grand Marble’. These characteristics in combination distinguish ‘Grand Marble’ as a new and distinct Ipomoea plant:

-   -   1. Initially upright then trailing plant habit.     -   2. Freely branching habit, dense and bushy growth habit.     -   3. Rapid growth rate.     -   4. Dark purple and green bi-colored cordate-shaped leaves.

Plants of the new Ipomoea can be compared to plants of the parent, ‘Blackie’. Plants of the new Ipomoea differ primarily from plants of ‘Blackie’ in leaf color as plants of ‘Blackie’ have solid dark purple-colored leaves.

Plants of the new Ipomoea can be compared to plants of the Ipomoea batatas ‘Sweet Caroline Sweetheart Purple’, not patented. In side-by-side comparisons conducted in Oklahoma City, Okla., plants of the new Ipomoea differed from plants of ‘Sweet Caroline Sweetheart Purple’ in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Ipomoea were more trailing than plants of         ‘Sweet Caroline Sweetheart Purple’.     -   2. Plants of the new Ipomoea and ‘Sweet Caroline Sweetheart         Purple’ differed in leaf color as plants of ‘Sweet Caroline         Sweetheart Purple’ had solid purple-colored leaves.

Plants of the new Ipomoea can also be compared to plants of the Ipomoea batatas ‘NCORNSP-011MONTC’, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 21,743. In side-by-side comparisons conducted in Oklahoma City, Okla., plants of the new Ipomoea differed from plants of ‘NCORNSP-011MONTC’ in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Ipomoea had large cordate-shaped leaves         whereas plants of ‘NCORNSP-011MONTC’ have palmate-shaped leaves         with deep lobes.     -   2. Plants of the new Ipomoea and ‘NCORNSP-011MONTC’ differed in         leaf color as plants of ‘NCORNSP-011MONTC’ had solid         purple-colored leaves.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying colored photographs illustrate the overall appearance of the new Ipomoea plant showing the colors as true as it is reasonably possible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type. Colors in the photographs may differ slightly from the color values cited in the detailed botanical description which accurately describe the colors of the new Ipomoea plant.

The photograph at the bottom of the sheet comprises a side perspective view of typical plants of ‘Grand Marble’ grown in a container.

The photograph at the top of the sheet comprises a close-up view of a typical plant of ‘Grand Marble’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The aforementioned photographs and following observations, measurements and values describe plants grown in 12.7-cm containers during the winter in a polyethylene-covered greenhouse in Oklahoma City, Okla. under cultural practices which closely approximate commercial Ipomoea production. During the production of the plants, day temperatures ranged from 10° C. to 32° C. and night temperatures ranged from 4° C. to 24° C. Plants were three months old when the photographs and description were taken. In the detailed description, color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, 2007 Edition, except where general terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used.

-   Botanical classification: Ipomoea batatas ‘Grand Marble’. -   Parentage: Naturally-occurring branch mutation of Ipomoea batatas     ‘Blackie’, not patented. -   Propagation:     -   -   Type.—By cuttings.         -   Time to initiate roots.—About 10 to 14 days at temperatures             of 21° C. to 29° C.         -   Time to produce a rooted young plant.—About three weeks at             temperatures of 21° C. to 29° C.         -   Root description.—Medium in thickness, fibrous; white in             color.         -   Rooting habit.—Freely branching; medium density.         -   Tuber description.—Tuber development has not been observed             on plants of the new Ipomoea. -   Plant description:     -   -   Plant habit.—Initially upright then trailing plant habit;             freely branching habit, dense and bushy habit; pinching             enhances lateral branch development; vigorous growth habit             and rapid growth rate.         -   Plant height.—About 12 cm.         -   Plant diameter.—About 19 cm by 24 cm. -   Lateral branch description:     -   -   Quantity per plant.—About three primary lateral branches             develop per plant.         -   Length.—About 14.2 cm.         -   Diameter.—About 4 mm.         -   Internode length.—About 1.4 cm.         -   Strength.—Strong.         -   Texture.—Sparsely pubescent.         -   Color.—Close to N92A. -   Foliage description:     -   -   Arrangement.—Alternate, simple.         -   Length.—About 8 cm.         -   Width.—About 6.2 cm.         -   Shape.—Cordate.         -   Apex.—Acuminate.         -   Base.—Cordate.         -   Margin.—Entire.         -   Texture, upper surface.—Sparsely pubescent.         -   Texture, lower surface.—Glabrous; prominent venation.         -   Venation pattern.—Pinnate; arcuate.         -   Color.—Developing leaves, upper surface: Close to 146A.             Developing leaves, lower surface: Close to 148B. Fully             expanded leaves, upper surface: Close to N186A to N186B with             random sectors and flecks, close to 137A; venation, close to             N92A. Fully expanded leaves, lower surface: Slightly more             grey than N186C with random sectors and flecks, close to             138B; venation, close to N92A.         -   Petiole.—Length: About 6.5 cm. Diameter: About 2.5 mm.             Texture, upper and lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous. Color,             upper surface: Close to N186C. Color, lower surface: Close             to N186C with random flecks, close to 138B. -   Flower description: Flower development has not been observed on     plants of the new Ipomoea. -   Temperature tolerance: Plants of the new Ipomoea have been observed     to tolerate temperatures from about 5° C. to about 40° C. -   Pathogen & pest resistance: Plants of the new Ipomoea have not been     observed to be resistant to pests and pathogens common to Ipomoea     plants. 

It is claimed:
 1. A new and distinct Ipomoea plant named ‘Grand Marble’ as illustrated and described. 